And what a break it will be! My office partner and I stayed a couple hours late Friday stripping down the office, moving everything into the conference rooms. The crews start work on Monday morning, and we should come back to an office with new built-in workstations in two weeks. Of course, that means we'll get to come in the weekend before school resumes to move all our stuff back in. But in the meantime, we can't really work there, so we finally have an excuse to use some of that comp time we've built up!
The last week of school was fun but everyone is so ready for a break. I am still fuming about the mooning incident that took place last Friday. For at least 20 minutes, from the time the last bell rang until the last bus left, two 18-year-olds stood in the large window of the second story apartment across the street and repeatedly bent over and mooned the crowds below. I was about to call 911 to report an out-of-control parent chasing and screaming at a child on the side of the school when I heard someone in the office say, "He's flashing us again!" I looked out the window and sure enough, there it was. So I reported both incidents.
A police officer eventually made contact with the mooners, who admitted to doing it but supposedly didn't realize that everyone in the crowded parking lot and all the buses were watching. They were only mooning a friend of theirs and they were very apologetic and embarrassed. Yeah right. But according to the nice policeman, no crime was committed. Ok folks, go ahead and moon crowds of parents and children across the street from a school. It's perfectly all right in Albany, Oregon.
Anyway, I am thrilled to have the next week off, because I have a Christmas letter to finish and get out, my final shopping to do, all the gifts to wrap, some baking to do, and various other miscellaneous and sundry items on the "To Do" list which I am about to make!
I had a delightful surprise when Anise and Venisa came over last night. We made cut- out Christmas cookies together. How lovely to spend time with a grown up niece who is so beautiful inside and out. (And her mother too of course. Except she said I was bossy sometimes.) Oh well, I guess it's true!
I wonder how many people out there are all ready for Christmas and have no preparations remaining? I suspect I may be behind the average 50-something-year-old matron in my readiness...but the preparations are half the fun! Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
"My First 4.0!"
The either greatly dreaded or anticipated "progress reports", formerly known as "report cards", were passed out to students during their last period class today. After school, sixth grade teacher Mr. J came to the office and shared this story. One of his favorite students raised his hand after looking over the Progress Report and said, "I have a 4.0. That's really good, isn't it!" Mr. J recalled that he had given this child a C, so he asked the student to show it to him. After looking at it, Mr. J was sorry but greatly amused to tell the student, "You do indeed, have 4.0 in absences!”
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Good Will, Bad Will
I love a Saturday morning when there is nothing urgent on the agenda, just a day to get up whenever you wake up, drink coffee, read the paper, and dilly dally on the computer before you start the day's chores. The urgency of the seasonal to-do list hasn't taken over me just yet, so yesterday I was slothfully enjoying the morning until around 11:00. Will put some laundry in the washer and I commented how kind he was to get it started. I also took it as a hint to get busy, since of course he had been productive already for several hours.
My pleasure at his helpfulness lasted until I transferred his laundry to the dryer. To my horror, I beheld a flannel sheet that had been in the RV dog crate, mixed with kitchen towels as well as Will's clothes! Whites and darks were mixed as well, but that was a minor side issue compared to a dog item mixed with kitchen towels! I calmly, tactfully mentioned this faux pas to him. (It goes without saying, the kitchen towels got rewashed.)
Soon he came in to get my car key to put a can of de-icer in my car to help me out on the busy mornings when he is unable to go out and warm up my car for me. A few minutes later he brought me a cutting board that he had repaired for me.
In amazement I inquired, "How can you be both so bad and so good at the same time?!!"
And so it is. Since then I'm afraid it has become very easy for me to label the things he does and says. "Good Will." "Bad Will." If he calls me psycho or wacko for my feelings about dog germs, "Bad Will". Of course, Good Will is far more dominant than Bad Will. I observe myself also having these two sides. In fact, everyone does. The best thing is that both the Bad Will and the Good Will make me laugh. Frequently. Loudly.
My pleasure at his helpfulness lasted until I transferred his laundry to the dryer. To my horror, I beheld a flannel sheet that had been in the RV dog crate, mixed with kitchen towels as well as Will's clothes! Whites and darks were mixed as well, but that was a minor side issue compared to a dog item mixed with kitchen towels! I calmly, tactfully mentioned this faux pas to him. (It goes without saying, the kitchen towels got rewashed.)
Soon he came in to get my car key to put a can of de-icer in my car to help me out on the busy mornings when he is unable to go out and warm up my car for me. A few minutes later he brought me a cutting board that he had repaired for me.
In amazement I inquired, "How can you be both so bad and so good at the same time?!!"
And so it is. Since then I'm afraid it has become very easy for me to label the things he does and says. "Good Will." "Bad Will." If he calls me psycho or wacko for my feelings about dog germs, "Bad Will". Of course, Good Will is far more dominant than Bad Will. I observe myself also having these two sides. In fact, everyone does. The best thing is that both the Bad Will and the Good Will make me laugh. Frequently. Loudly.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A Five-Day Thanksgiving Weekend!
Budget issues that result in three paid days being cut from school employees this year sounded like a real bummer---but now that I get to take one of those days off tomorrow, the day before Thanksgiving, I'm thinking it's a great deal! A whole day to clean house and prepare for Thanksgiving guests and drink my favorite Good Earth Sweet and Spicy Tea, (which I have already started)! What a great feeling!
Everyone was in a good mood at work today. One of my favorite co-workers, a spunky age 55+ pastor's wife, was talking to our principal yesterday and as she was leaving she said, "Thank you Sweetheart." It struck me funny, and I told her I wondered how many employees across the United States called their boss "sweetheart". She informed me that I well knew she calls everyone "sweetheart" or "honey" and she's not about to change her ways. Today she called my co-worker by her given name and I asked if she was mad at her since she didn't use any terms of endearment. She glared at me and said, "I have one thing to say to you." (One of her trademark lines. I always listen well.) She continued,"Watch your hiney, honey!" Then she made her exit. So I won't be turning my back on her for awhile! I am so thankful that I work with fun characters!
Then another co-worker character, a young man with a curly pony tail past his waist who has a pet goat and is planning to buy another one for his wife for Christmas, came through. He tends to come to work with boiled eggs in his coat pockets, and you might see him standing at a garbage can peeling and eating one at any random time. Someone asked him if he would be eating a turkey dinner and he said of course. She said, "Well, I wasn't sure since you're kind of nontraditional." Then came another great quote of the day, "I'm not nontraditional," he said. "I'm supplementally traditional."
This education assistant spends all day in a room with a male student with limited communication skills and low impulse control. He has to be vigilant for unexpected moves. (This kids suddenly threw the contents of a recycle bin at my office mate last year!) My principal witnessed them working together this week and came back to the office full of appreciation for the patience of this guy. "Where does the Q go?" he asked. To which the student replied in his monotone, "I'm sick and tired of your f%*$#@& b@*%#!!" (I don't really know how to type the swearing symbols!)
I am very thankful for the patience and commitment of all the people who are willing to work with the difficult children our schools are populated with.
I'm also thankful that we all get a break from them for five whole days!!!
Everyone was in a good mood at work today. One of my favorite co-workers, a spunky age 55+ pastor's wife, was talking to our principal yesterday and as she was leaving she said, "Thank you Sweetheart." It struck me funny, and I told her I wondered how many employees across the United States called their boss "sweetheart". She informed me that I well knew she calls everyone "sweetheart" or "honey" and she's not about to change her ways. Today she called my co-worker by her given name and I asked if she was mad at her since she didn't use any terms of endearment. She glared at me and said, "I have one thing to say to you." (One of her trademark lines. I always listen well.) She continued,"Watch your hiney, honey!" Then she made her exit. So I won't be turning my back on her for awhile! I am so thankful that I work with fun characters!
Then another co-worker character, a young man with a curly pony tail past his waist who has a pet goat and is planning to buy another one for his wife for Christmas, came through. He tends to come to work with boiled eggs in his coat pockets, and you might see him standing at a garbage can peeling and eating one at any random time. Someone asked him if he would be eating a turkey dinner and he said of course. She said, "Well, I wasn't sure since you're kind of nontraditional." Then came another great quote of the day, "I'm not nontraditional," he said. "I'm supplementally traditional."
This education assistant spends all day in a room with a male student with limited communication skills and low impulse control. He has to be vigilant for unexpected moves. (This kids suddenly threw the contents of a recycle bin at my office mate last year!) My principal witnessed them working together this week and came back to the office full of appreciation for the patience of this guy. "Where does the Q go?" he asked. To which the student replied in his monotone, "I'm sick and tired of your f%*$#@& b@*%#!!" (I don't really know how to type the swearing symbols!)
I am very thankful for the patience and commitment of all the people who are willing to work with the difficult children our schools are populated with.
I'm also thankful that we all get a break from them for five whole days!!!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Four Years Ago Today
November 19, 2005. My 21-year-old nephew Tyler, was on the other side of the world, a Marine serving in Iraq. He wrote a letter to the McAnulty Family and addressed and sealed it before he went on duty. He didn’t know that he would never come back and put it in the mail.
Here in Tangent, it started out as a perfectly ordinary and wonderful Saturday. I went to my parents in Brownsville and had a good time quilting with some family members, then took Nick out shopping for a new sweatshirt that afternoon. Nick had just found one that he really liked when I got the call from my brother (Tyler’s dad) that changed everything. The sweatshirt was left behind, and I couldn’t go back into the Ross store at the mall for a very long time.
Tyler had lived next door to us since middle school. On Christmas Eve, Tyler’s sister and mom walked over and brought me an incredible gift, the letter he had written to our family on that last day. They discovered it among his belongings that were shipped to them. I shared it in this blog posting: http://wlenmusings.blogspot.com/2005/12/letter-from-tyler.html
Here is another blog I wrote that tells more about the awesome person that he was. http://wlenmusings.blogspot.com/2005/11/tyler-troyer-american-hero-beloved.html
Tyler will never be forgotten by those who love him, and today we will all be remembering the fun and laughter and love he brought to our lives, as well as again grieving the loss of this beloved nephew/cousin/ brother/son/ friend. My love and prayers are with his family today.
Here in Tangent, it started out as a perfectly ordinary and wonderful Saturday. I went to my parents in Brownsville and had a good time quilting with some family members, then took Nick out shopping for a new sweatshirt that afternoon. Nick had just found one that he really liked when I got the call from my brother (Tyler’s dad) that changed everything. The sweatshirt was left behind, and I couldn’t go back into the Ross store at the mall for a very long time.
Tyler had lived next door to us since middle school. On Christmas Eve, Tyler’s sister and mom walked over and brought me an incredible gift, the letter he had written to our family on that last day. They discovered it among his belongings that were shipped to them. I shared it in this blog posting: http://wlenmusings.blogspot.com/2005/12/letter-from-tyler.html
Here is another blog I wrote that tells more about the awesome person that he was. http://wlenmusings.blogspot.com/2005/11/tyler-troyer-american-hero-beloved.html
Tyler will never be forgotten by those who love him, and today we will all be remembering the fun and laughter and love he brought to our lives, as well as again grieving the loss of this beloved nephew/cousin/ brother/son/ friend. My love and prayers are with his family today.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Not Meant to be an Orphan
Forty-one years ago in the year 1968, I was living in the small town of Cairo, Nebraska, population approximately 600, with my family. The year before, my dad had a career change, from a farmer to a mechanic, after he bought a garage in Cairo. For the first time, we lived "in town" instead of out in the country.
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had two surgeries, including a mastectomy, during July and August of that year. Her recovery was slow and it was a very difficult winter for her.
Recently my older brother John was in Cairo, and an elderly person he visited there had all the back issues of the local newspaper, "The Cairo Record". She couldn't find this article while he was there, but found it later and sent it to him.
From the December 20, 1968 Cairo Record:
”We just couldn’t think straight”
"Stan Troyer, his son John or Dan Kroeger can tell you what it is like to be monoxide poisoned after a brush with asphyxiation Saturday night. The three men were working in Troyer’s Garage on Dan’s truck, actually had the door open while the truck was running, yet half an hour after they shut the truck off, Stan keeled over. Both John and Dan were partially asphyxiated at the time, but had the presence of mind enough to get Stan outside, Dan Kroeger told John to call the Doctor, then passed out himself. John managed to call the Doctor and Dan’s wife, then staggered outside where he also became unconscious. By the time Dr. Harb arrived, Stan and Dan had come around, but John was still under. Dr. Harb had fire chief Al Veeder called to bring the oxygen resuscitator and about half an hour later, John was back on his feet.
Stan said he had often wondered why a person receiving an overdose of carbon monoxide could not do something about it, such as go for fresh air, or open a door, but he said all of them were staggering around trying to work, but they were unable to think clearly, John said at times he can recall that everything seemed hilariously funny.
Perhaps the thing that saved their lives was when Stan passed out. Until then, apparently, everything seemed under control and none of them felt they were in any way in danger, but when Stan fell over, it jarred them into the knowledge that they must get fresh air.
Dan recalled being dizzy at an earlier point, but said he went back to work thinking it was after effects from the flu.
At any rate, all three feel lucky to be alive and will not soon forget their experience."
Wow. I have heard this story many times over the years, but reading this made me think about how different my life would have been had I lost my dad and/or brother that night. My siblings and I would have been orphans five years later after my mom died! What would have happened to me and my three younger siblings? My imagination can run wild! Obviously it was not God's time for them to go, and I am so very thankful for that!
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had two surgeries, including a mastectomy, during July and August of that year. Her recovery was slow and it was a very difficult winter for her.
Recently my older brother John was in Cairo, and an elderly person he visited there had all the back issues of the local newspaper, "The Cairo Record". She couldn't find this article while he was there, but found it later and sent it to him.
From the December 20, 1968 Cairo Record:
”We just couldn’t think straight”
"Stan Troyer, his son John or Dan Kroeger can tell you what it is like to be monoxide poisoned after a brush with asphyxiation Saturday night. The three men were working in Troyer’s Garage on Dan’s truck, actually had the door open while the truck was running, yet half an hour after they shut the truck off, Stan keeled over. Both John and Dan were partially asphyxiated at the time, but had the presence of mind enough to get Stan outside, Dan Kroeger told John to call the Doctor, then passed out himself. John managed to call the Doctor and Dan’s wife, then staggered outside where he also became unconscious. By the time Dr. Harb arrived, Stan and Dan had come around, but John was still under. Dr. Harb had fire chief Al Veeder called to bring the oxygen resuscitator and about half an hour later, John was back on his feet.
Stan said he had often wondered why a person receiving an overdose of carbon monoxide could not do something about it, such as go for fresh air, or open a door, but he said all of them were staggering around trying to work, but they were unable to think clearly, John said at times he can recall that everything seemed hilariously funny.
Perhaps the thing that saved their lives was when Stan passed out. Until then, apparently, everything seemed under control and none of them felt they were in any way in danger, but when Stan fell over, it jarred them into the knowledge that they must get fresh air.
Dan recalled being dizzy at an earlier point, but said he went back to work thinking it was after effects from the flu.
At any rate, all three feel lucky to be alive and will not soon forget their experience."
Wow. I have heard this story many times over the years, but reading this made me think about how different my life would have been had I lost my dad and/or brother that night. My siblings and I would have been orphans five years later after my mom died! What would have happened to me and my three younger siblings? My imagination can run wild! Obviously it was not God's time for them to go, and I am so very thankful for that!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Even Really Stubborn People get Sick
If sheer determination and stubbornness prevented one from catching the seasonal ailments that go around, then I would never get them. (Not that I'm admitting to being stubborn.) I set my mind that I will not get sick and miss work. Perhaps it helps slightly, because I rarely catch anything that keeps me home more than a day or two. But last Wednesday at work, a dry cough kept erupting from me, and a headache wouldn't go away.
Maybe you've noticed that we are currently living in a social climate where any coughing, nose blowing, or related behaviors are greeted with more than distaste; some people become very alarmed. I did not feel very popular in the office that day, and it was just a dry cough! By the end of the day I knew for sure I was getting sick and was very happy to find that one sub who does a great job was available. I made arrangements with her to come in, optimistically saying to plan on just the morning because surely I'd be fine by noon. I came home and went to bed.
Hah. Optimism didn't help me either. Although I did tell her to plan on just the morning again the next day because surely I'd be fine by then. Double hah. Shortly after noon on Friday, my temperature reached its' high of 101.2, which really isn't bad. The next couple of days I felt very fortunate that I had a mild version of the ailment, with only a couple of hours a day with a fever, but constant extreme exhaustion and tummy aches when I tried to eat. But no upper respiratory symptoms - the dry cough even disappeared! And no nausea or other unmentionable digestive problems.
My dear husband treated me like royalty the first day that I was in bed, bringing me drinks and even an unsolicited pancake, and toast and chicken noodle soup when I asked. Texting was a great way to meekly communicate my simple needs, and oh the joy of his predictable response, "Yes, Princess." When I moved downstairs to the living room couch the next day, he was a bit less servile. I suspect he had been trying to keep me isolated. But I stayed out of the family room, never touching his recliner or his remote, washing my hands often and spraying disinfectant on surfaces I touched in the kitchen.
I considered staying in bed the next day hoping he would again wait on me hand and foot, but my back ached from being in the recumbent position for too long. At least on the couch you can vary from sitting and reclining!
I watched a lot of HGTV and Food Channel because they didn't require full time alertness to be enjoyable. It doesn't really matter if you doze off in the middle and miss the ending. Apparently the Food Channel had quite an impact on me because I tossed quite a slab of butter in the skillet tonight and sauteed some chicken tenderloins with garlic, lemon pepper, and a bit of thyme. It was so juicy and fabulous. I normally would have used just a small slosh of olive oil. The Food channel shows cook with a lot of butter. They seem to have no idea that it's really high in fat and calories. There is one fun show with a husband and wife bantering as they chop things and cook very fattening food together, swooning as they taste the delectable results. I would like that to be me and Will in our kitchen, without the cameras and fattening part. I felt kind of jealous. Actually, after a few days, I was jealous of everyone who was well and out of their house doing things.
HGTV helped me become extremely aware that my home is very dated and needs some updates before anyone would ever consider buying it. Fortunately it's not for sale. It's so '90s.
I had a very restful day yesterday, holding my breath that my temp wouldn't go up again. It didn't! I got up this morning at 5:30 feeling great. I saw myself in the mirror after my hair was done and make up on. My eyes were sparkling and I just looked great to myself! Craig was also sick yesterday, and his comment that "It's a good thing we look so good in sweats!" was very kind and amusing but not at all factual. I was really sick of seeing myself in the mirror looking sick!
The sunrise was streaking the sky with color as I drove to work this morning. The world was such a beautiful place. The office and the people there looked wonderful, and they were all very kind and happy to have me back. Although they cruelly pointed out that I missed out on the payday coffee that one teacher always brings us, and on the Krispy Kreme donut sale that happened Friday.
The in-box is very full but it's doable. Will and Nick are taking off for a week of hunting on Thursday, so I have plenty of time to catch up.
I love feeling good!!!
Maybe you've noticed that we are currently living in a social climate where any coughing, nose blowing, or related behaviors are greeted with more than distaste; some people become very alarmed. I did not feel very popular in the office that day, and it was just a dry cough! By the end of the day I knew for sure I was getting sick and was very happy to find that one sub who does a great job was available. I made arrangements with her to come in, optimistically saying to plan on just the morning because surely I'd be fine by noon. I came home and went to bed.
Hah. Optimism didn't help me either. Although I did tell her to plan on just the morning again the next day because surely I'd be fine by then. Double hah. Shortly after noon on Friday, my temperature reached its' high of 101.2, which really isn't bad. The next couple of days I felt very fortunate that I had a mild version of the ailment, with only a couple of hours a day with a fever, but constant extreme exhaustion and tummy aches when I tried to eat. But no upper respiratory symptoms - the dry cough even disappeared! And no nausea or other unmentionable digestive problems.
My dear husband treated me like royalty the first day that I was in bed, bringing me drinks and even an unsolicited pancake, and toast and chicken noodle soup when I asked. Texting was a great way to meekly communicate my simple needs, and oh the joy of his predictable response, "Yes, Princess." When I moved downstairs to the living room couch the next day, he was a bit less servile. I suspect he had been trying to keep me isolated. But I stayed out of the family room, never touching his recliner or his remote, washing my hands often and spraying disinfectant on surfaces I touched in the kitchen.
I considered staying in bed the next day hoping he would again wait on me hand and foot, but my back ached from being in the recumbent position for too long. At least on the couch you can vary from sitting and reclining!
I watched a lot of HGTV and Food Channel because they didn't require full time alertness to be enjoyable. It doesn't really matter if you doze off in the middle and miss the ending. Apparently the Food Channel had quite an impact on me because I tossed quite a slab of butter in the skillet tonight and sauteed some chicken tenderloins with garlic, lemon pepper, and a bit of thyme. It was so juicy and fabulous. I normally would have used just a small slosh of olive oil. The Food channel shows cook with a lot of butter. They seem to have no idea that it's really high in fat and calories. There is one fun show with a husband and wife bantering as they chop things and cook very fattening food together, swooning as they taste the delectable results. I would like that to be me and Will in our kitchen, without the cameras and fattening part. I felt kind of jealous. Actually, after a few days, I was jealous of everyone who was well and out of their house doing things.
HGTV helped me become extremely aware that my home is very dated and needs some updates before anyone would ever consider buying it. Fortunately it's not for sale. It's so '90s.
I had a very restful day yesterday, holding my breath that my temp wouldn't go up again. It didn't! I got up this morning at 5:30 feeling great. I saw myself in the mirror after my hair was done and make up on. My eyes were sparkling and I just looked great to myself! Craig was also sick yesterday, and his comment that "It's a good thing we look so good in sweats!" was very kind and amusing but not at all factual. I was really sick of seeing myself in the mirror looking sick!
The sunrise was streaking the sky with color as I drove to work this morning. The world was such a beautiful place. The office and the people there looked wonderful, and they were all very kind and happy to have me back. Although they cruelly pointed out that I missed out on the payday coffee that one teacher always brings us, and on the Krispy Kreme donut sale that happened Friday.
The in-box is very full but it's doable. Will and Nick are taking off for a week of hunting on Thursday, so I have plenty of time to catch up.
I love feeling good!!!
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